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The Citizen, 1988-03-16, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1988. Change policies to save farms: Van Donkersgoed The Christian Farmers’ Federa­ tion of Ontario’s (CFFO) theory for solving the farm crisis is startling in its simplicity, but it implies putting into effect national and international practices which are beyond the capabilities of the individual farmer. Still, Elbert VanDonkersgoed, head of the CFFO’s research and policy department, told about a dozen farmers in Lucknow last week that they all must become aware of the possibility of change if they are to save the family farm for a long way into the future. It was an example of the old-time “kitchen table’’ farm meetings at their best asthemensharedsomeoftheir frustrations and concerns follow­ ing Mr. Van Donkersgoed's pre­ sentation last Thursday. Elbert VanDonkersgoed, left, director of research and policy for the Christian Farmers’ Federation of Ontario [CFFO] was at the Lucknow Community Centre last Thursday to speak to farmers about ways of lessening the impact of the farm crisis of the 1980’s. Among those in attendance were dairy farmers Pete VanSickle of RR 5, Lucknow [centre] and Henk Versteeg of RR 2, Wingham. Brussels Stockyards Pigs sell steady to higher The market at Brussels Stock- yards Friday traded actively at strong prices on all classes of finished cattle. Cows sold fully steady and pigs traded steady to higher with last week’s sale. There were 898 cattle and 497 pigs on offer. Choice steers sold at $88 to $93, with sales to $94.75; good steers brought $84 to $88. A steer consigned by Maple Emblem Farms, weighing 1230 lbs., sold for $94.75 with their total offering of 14 steers averaging 1204 lbs., selling for an overall price of $89.78. Thirty-four steers consigned by George Underwood Farms of RR 1, Wingham, averag­ ing 1322 lbs., sold for an average price of $87.93 with sales to $92.75. Eighteen steers consigned by Fraser Mustard of RR 2, Bluevale, averaging 1181 lbs., sold for $89.04. A Hereford steer consigned by Alvin Ritz of Monkton, weighing 980 lbs., sold for $94.25. Twenty- three steers consigned by Mac RossofRR3, Embro, averaging 1203 lbs., sold for an average price of $88.13, with sales to$91.50. Five white steers consigned by Bill Van Dyke, ofRR7, Lucknow, averaging 1220 lbs., sold for $90.25, with his total lot of 13 steers, averaging The public information meeting also served to touch base with CFFO members and others in the area, which has yet to attract enough members to form a local CFFO association. Provincially, the organization has between 500 and 600 paid up members, about 40 of them in Huron County. Mr. VanDonkersgoed sees the salvation of Canadian agriculture dependent upon making changes in four main areas of current Canadian farm policy, and he carefully explained how a new direction in each would benefit farmers across the country. First, farmers must find con­ structive ways to cut back their production, which the CFFO lead­ er sees as the single most important reason for today’s low 1165 lbs., and selling for an overall price of $89.61. Seventeen hereford steers con­ signed by Lome Eadie of RR 1, Holyrood, averaging 1268 lbs., sold for an overall price of $88.89. Three steers consigned by Warden and Glen Haney of RR 4, Seaforth, averaging 1220 lbs., sold for $88.86. A steer consigned by Stam Farms, of RR 4, Kincardine weighing 1340 lbs., sold for $91 with their total offering of 24 steers averaging 1300 lbs., selling for an average price of $87.93. Five steers consigned by Bert Hastings of RR 4, Wingham, averaging 1142 lbs., sold for an overall price of $88 with sales to $89.35. Choice exotic heifers sold at $88 to $92 with sales to $94; good heifers brought $83 to $87. A white heifer consigned by Harold and Gary Bell of RR 1, Wroxeter, weighing990 lbs., sold for $94, with their total offering of 16 heifers averaging 1171 lbs., selling for an overall price of $87.63. A black heifer consigned by Elwood Fitch of RR 1, Wroxeter, weighing 1000 lbs., sold for $94, with his total lot of 41 heifers, averfaging 1083 lbs, selling for an average price of $87.51. Six heifers consigned by Max Bell of RR 1, Gorrie, averaging 957 lbs., sold for commodity prices around the world. “Some say that prices are low because of the European-US trade war,’’ Mr. VanDonkersgoed said. “But if both communities were to drop all their subsidies tomorrow, it wouldn’t change the price of grain because that price is set by how much is on the market. “If you do a better job as a farmer, if you do a better job of producing more, then you’ve got to take less for vour product.’’ Secondly, he said that the Canadian and U.S. farmer’s de­ pendency on government subsi­ dies as they now exist is destruc­ tive, but that if subsidies are going to be handed out, they must be targeted to those most in need of them, to those in “deep trouble.’’ “Ifyou give $5,000 to every pork producer, the one who is already well established is going to say ‘I better do something with this quick or I’ll lose half of it back to the government in taxes.’ But for the man at the bottom, the extra cash is $90.19, with sales to $92.75. Eleven heifers consigned by GeorgeBlakeofRR2, Brussels, averaging 1045 lbs., sold for an average price of $89.55, with sales to$93.75. Thirteen heifers con­ signed by Gerald Smith of RR 2, Mildmay, averaging 1049 lbs., sold for an average price of 85.98, with sales to $91.50. A heifer consigned by Neil Rintoul of RR 2, Lucknow, weighing 1160 lbs., sold for $90.75, with his total lot of six heifers, averaging 1148 lbs., sell­ ing for an average price of $87.46. Two red white-faced heifers con­ signed by Lloyd Husk of RR 4, Kincardine, averaging 1025 lbs., sold for $90.50. Five heifers consigned by Brian McBurney, of RR 1, Wingham, averaging 1040 lbs., soldfor $89.05 with sales to $90. A heifer consigned by Cecil and Karl Raszmann of RR 1, Monkton, weighing990 lbs., sold for $90 with their total offering of 10 heifers averaging 1049 lbs., selling for an average price of $85.98. A grey heifer consigned by Lome Hackett of RR 3, Lucknow, weighing 1020 lbs., sold for $94. Choice cows fetched $59 to $65; good cows brought $57 to $62; and Continued on page 22 just going to enable him to hang on for a few months longer, and nothing is really going to change. ’ ’ In the third place, Mr. VanDon­ kersgoed said that a vital part of the CFFO’s “crisis agenda’’ is to find ways of de-coupling support pro­ grams and production, a system which in the long run leads i ight back to the major problem, over­ production of commodities. “The more you produce today, the more you collect, it’s as simple as that,’’ he said. “The net return from agricul­ ture in the (Canadian) west today is negative: the entire production of western farms is being sold, but the value of it all is less than the subsidies which must be set up in order for farmers to pay their bills. In other words, our efficient grain production has become a net drain on the economy asawhole,’’ he explained. Later, he said thatsociety should be encouraged to consider other ways of providing remuneration to farm families other than locking them into overproducing. “I have no problem with saying that you (farmers) should be compensated in some way for providing the fresh air and clean water, for safeguard­ ing the environment for the rest of us. “I’m not sure how far we can go in that direction, but I think there ’ s a lot of opportunity for us to talk about it,” he said. The final part of the CFFO’s crisis agendais to provide more and better compassionate assis­ tance to those who really need it in times of crisis. Mr. Van Donkers­ goed pointed out that the Christian Farmers have always been at the forefront of those saying that there are some farm families who are just not going to make it through the 1980’s, and those people should be given both the financial and compassionate assistance they need to establish a life in some other field. He added that the CFFO had played a considerable role in getting bodies such as the Farm Debt Review Board (FDRB) to provide more opportunities for both economic and compassionate heipto farmers, and would con­ tinue to play a leading role. Finally, Mr. VanDonkersgoed said that farmers everywhere must East Wawanosh Township Federation of Agriculture ANNUAL MEETING Wednesday, March 23 Belgrave Institute Hall Guest Speakers: Brian Ireland & Brenda Mason from Queen’s Bush Rural Ministry Tickets: $8.00 per person Time:12:15p.m. PRIDE DAYS March Savings on Pride Corn GET5% SAVINGS PLUS A FREEDRAWBOLT Checkout Pride K127, K1184and K2204,-the hot ones forthis area.Boyd Taylor RR 3, Walton have a strong commitment to the familyfarm stewarship policy, that they must safeguard the health of the family farm, not only to pass it on to the next generation in as good condition as they themselves inherited it, but in the long range, to keep it free from destruction for its original steward, the Lord. “Part of our feeling for the land is that we need to hug the soil, ” he concluded. “We need to have the same sort of feeling about the soil, the environment, the crops and the livestock as we have about each other. “Stewardship is derived from the strong inner conviction that an enterprise must, above all, respect the intrinsic value of our world.” CAPITAL If you have a capital gain or loss to report on your income tax return this year, bring your return to H&R Block. 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